Non Urgent Health Number Launches In Essex

29 October 2014, 06:00

A new single non-urgent medical number is now available in Essex to help us find the right place to go to or right person to speak to about health services.

With such a vast and complicated health and social care system, it's not always clear where you should go to find information, so the new independent Health Consumer Champion Healthwatch Essex has created a single number for residents to find out about health and care services.

The number is 0300 500 1895- a one-stop-shop for information about health and care services in your area.

What the service is...

A free, friendly and confidential services independent from the NHS and social care services

An information and signposting role, giving callers the contact details for a range of health and social care services, which can then be contacted by the caller

They can give information about choices where you might get help in relation to your health, social care and wellbeing needs

Put callers in touch with sources of information on NHS and social care services in Essex

They can give callers information about what to do when things have gone wrong and you are unsure how to make a complaint

What the service is not...

It's not supported by trained clinicians or health and care professionals. This means they cannot offer advice on medical matters - including medication, queries about a diagnosis or recommendations about a choice of a particular treatment pathway

Healthwatch Essex is not a part of the NHS or Essex County Council. Whilst they will use your feedback to improve services, they have no powers to investigate individual formal complaints about them

They cannot offer advice as to the 'best' place to go to receive a service or offer an opinion as which service you choose for treatment, care or further information

They are not an advocacy service and so cannot make a complaint to a service on your behalf. If you need help or support to formally complain about an NHS service then you should contact SEAP on 0300 34 35 736

They are not able to offer financial, legal or similar specialist advice

If you are troubled and urgently need someone to talk to, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (Phone: 08457 909090, www.samaritans.org)